Well pipe handling apparatus



oct. 12, 194s.

Filed May`25, 1946 l. x. cALHouN WELL PIPE HADLING APPARATUS 3Sheets-.Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

Oct. 12, 1948. x. CALHOUN 2,450,934

WELL PIPE HANDLING APPARATUS n Filed May 25, 19,46 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. I

Oct. l2, 1948. 1. x. CALHOUN WELL PIPE HANDLING APPARATUS s sheets-sheets A Filed May 25, 1946 Fig. 8

1N VEN TOR.

Patented Oct. 12, 1948 f gianni UNITED STATES TENT OFFICEl WELL PIPEHANDLING APPARATUS Ingram X. Calhoun, Oklahoma, City, Okla.

Application May 25, 1946, Serial-N0. 672,273

(Cl. Z55-35.)

claims. 1

This invention relates-towell drilling equipmentand more particularly tahydraulically actuated tongsfor making and breaking joints of pipe.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a hydraulicallyactuated tong constructed and arranged with n, view towards preservingthe safety of thek operators and workmen as well as to minimize theusually strenuous labor required in positioning pipe sections andinvmaking and breaking joints. The invention anticipates such a tong,mountedfon a post or upright on Va derrick floor, in close proximity tothework and provided wtih a detachable control head operable by means offlexible hydraulicr lines so disposed that an operator mayv manipulatethe tong from a remote position'safe from falling objects.

Another object of the inventonis tofprovide, as. a complement to thetong, av hydraulically actuated, work positioning and orienting. arm

mounted on the supporting postv ofthe tong and actuated also byhydraulic lines connected to a source of pressure situated remotely fromthe point of operations. By virtue of the automatic work positioningarm, control of the work is assured with comparatively littlehazard andlabor on the partv of `an operator.

Still another object of thel inventionA is to providepipe handling,assembling anddisassembling equipment,y hydraulically; actuated;-whiehis so constructed and arranged that all controls are convenientlyoperated in -the comparative safety of a-steel topped shelter located-atone side of the derrickiloor.

With the foregoingobjects as paramount, the invention has furtherreference to certainV featuresof accomplishment which willbecorneapparent as the description proceeds, taken inconnection with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational vview ofa Well derrick,showing the invention .mounted in operative position on the floorthereon, 1

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the invention, showing the workpositioning arm in longitudinal section.

Figure 3 is a top plan view ofthe work positioning arm in longitudinalsection, taken on` line 3-3 on Figure 1.

Figure-4 is a plan view ofthe tighteningtong partly in section,r takenon line ll--I on liligure-l.`

Figure 5 is aplan viewpartly in section, showing the work holding tong,takenon linel--li` on- Figure 1.

Figure V6 is a side elevational view ofl ther-con- 2 trol panel, showingin vertical section the tong assembly elevating mechanism.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a joint spinning unit, which is a part of thecomplete assembly, and

Figure' is a detail plan view of the gearing and reversi-bleratchetmeohanism of thespinning unitshown in Figure '7.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawings, referenceis primarily made-to Figure 1 'wherein numeral I denotes Vthe derrickoor, resting on the foundation 2. Legs 3 constitute a part of thederrick frame and aremounted on the floor I. A hoisting unit il operatesYthe hoisting line 5to raise and lower` sectionsV 5` of the drill stemina conventional manner.A A rotary table 'l is shown as being-mounted onsupports 8 and a well control casing Q below the rotary extends into thewell.

At one side of the derrick floor is a shelter I5 of steel whose top Itprotectsanoperator inthe shelter from any objects' likely to fallhinthederrick.

An upright or post Ii) is secured by lag screws or bolts 5I extendingthrough a base plate 5l1` into the derrick floor. This post is adaptedto support the tong of the invention which, in Figure 1, is generallydesignated by reference numeral, II, and is employed tofscrew up andunsorew the upper too-l joint I3 from the lower tool joint All. Furtherreference in detail to this tong willbe made presently.

A manipulator arm, generally designated at I2 in Figure 1,is-constructedand arranged-toltake sections of drill stem 6, beingliitedandheld from above by hoisting line 5 andposition .then-Lacourately overthe lower tool joint Ill.

A control headIE located adjacent theY support of the tong I l containsvalves designed to enable an operator to control the apparatus whichisoperated by hydraulic pressure through line I6 'from pump I8, operatedby engine I9. Line l1 returns` spent fluid to reservoir 2B.. A shelter lisprovided into which the operator may move should protectionfrom-falling objects be needed.

Referring now tov Figures 2. and 3, it will be observed vthat an outerguide cylinder. 2|, forming a part of the workv manipulating arm I2, is

attached rotatively to the supporting post. Ifand contains an innerguidesleeve 22, the latten being movable axially with respect tothe guidecylinder 2|. A major actuating cylinder 23d-s attached rigidly to theclosed endY oftheC guide cylinder 2| and a piston 25 mounted oncylinder23 operates a piston rod 24 to move indexing cyllinder 28, therebymoving head I53- (Figure-3).

Piston 29 of the .indexing cylinder 28 actuates a piston rod 30 which isscrewed into a jaw operating cylinder 33. This latter cylinder isrigidly attached to the inner guide cylinder 22 by means of the shank ofthe head |53, previously referred to. The piston 34 carried by thecylinder 33 operates a piston rod 35 to pivot jaws 38 about pins 31 bymeans of links 36, thereby contracting the jaws 38 onto the drill stem 6to hold the same. To open the jaws 38, fluid is caused to ow intocylinder 33 through extensible pipe 40 and finds escape throughextensible pipe 39 and to effect closing of the jaws, the flow of fluidis reversed.

An arm 4| is rigidly attached to post I0 and serves as a means ofattachment of a cylinder 42 through the medium of a pin 49. Operatingwithin the cylinder 42 is a, piston 43 which is actuated by a rod 44,pivoted by means of a pin 45 to a lbracket 48 attached to the outerguide cylinder 2 I. The described cylinder and piston arrangement iseiective to oscillate the manipulator arm about the axis of post throughan angle of approximately 60. To operate the piston 43, fluid is causedto flow in line 48 and escapes through line 4'! to actuate the arm l2away from the center of rotary table I. Reverse flow of fluid causes thearm to advance towards the center of the rotary table.

When the arm I2 is in the position shown in Figure 3, that is, withcylinder 23 fully retracted; cylinder 29 fully extended and cylinder 42fully retracted, the drill stem 6 is directly over the center of rotarytable 'l and upper tool joint I3, lower tool joint I4 are in positionfor threaded engagement. Fluid ows through pipes 26 and 2'I to operatecylinder 23, and through extensible pipes 3| and 32 to operate indexingcylinder 28. The piping is but fragmentarily shown in Figure 3 for thesake of clarity but all piping is connected to the control head I5,shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring now to Figure 4; frame assembly 52 is shown as pivoted aboutpost I0 and contains the tightening tong, holding tong and spinningdevice in the relationship shown in Figure 2. A cylinder 54 is attachedby means of pins 55 to a torque tong frame 53. The cylinder 54 serves asa gripping cylinder and its piston 56 extends and retracts the rod 'I ofthe piston, thereby moving jaws 59 by means of a connecting pin 53. Jaws59 pivot about a pin 60 mounted in the torque tong frame 53, therebypressing the upper tool joint I3 against hardened teeth 6I.

Hydraulic fluid check Valve 68 operates in the following manner tomaintain heavy pressure for gripping of the tool joint I3 by by jaws 59:

Hydraulic fluid flows into check valve 68, past balls 69 and out throughlines 64 and line 66, lling both ends of cylinder I2, collapsing jaws 59by displacing pistons 56 and rods 51 in cylinders 54. Balls 69 preventthe return of any cf the hydraulic uid as torque cylinder 'I5 rotatesthe torque tong 53. Piston 'I3 in cylinder 'E2 is actuated by a pistonrod 'I4, creating high pressure in cylinder 72, proportional to theforce applied by the piston 'I6 in cylinder 15. This high pressure istransmitted through line 65 to right hand cylinder 54 when the joint isbeing loosened and through line 66 to the left hand cylinder 54 when thejoint is being tightened, thereby increasing the holding power inproportion to the torque applied.

To unclamp jaws 59 from the pipe, fluid is admitted under pressurethrough line 62, exerting pressure on piston 'I0 in cylinder 68,unseating 4 balls 69, allowing uid to ow out line 63, whereupon pistonrods 5I will be retracted by means of uid flowing into the rod end ofcylinder 54 through line 61.

Torque cylinder 'l5 is connected to the frame assembly 52 by means of apin '|'I in an arm 18. The piston I6 of the torque cylinder 'I5 isconnected by means of rod I4 to piston 'I3 of the cylinder I2 whichlatter serves as an intensifier cylinder. A pin II attaches cylinder 'I2to the torque tong frame 53.

In order to screw up a joint, uid is admitted to cylinder I5 throughline 'I9 and nds release through line 80. Obviously, ow of uid isreversed when a joint is to be unscrewed.

To rotate the frame assembly 52 (Fig. 4) a cylinder 8| is provided, itspiston rod 83 being attached to post ||J by means of a bell crank and apin 84. A pin 82 connects cylinder 8| to the frame assembly 52 which isrotated away from the center of the derrick floor by admitting uidthrough a line 86 and discharging through line 87. Reverse movement ofthe frame assembly is eected by reversing the flow of uid.

Referring now to Figure 5, it will be observed that the frame or bracket52 referred to above as the frame assembly, also supports and guides apipe holding tong frame 88. A pair of cylinders 89 are attached to thetong frame 88 by means of pins 90 and, through the medium of pistons 9|and rod 92, serve as a means for actuating jaws 94. These jaws arepivoted on pins and the rods 92 are pivoted to the outer ends of jaws 94by means of pins 93. The cylinders 89 are therefore effective asgripping cylinders. When piston rods 92 are extended, as shown in Figure5, the jaws 94 clamp the lower tool joint l 4 against hardened teeth 96in the tong frame 88.

Hydraulic uid check valve 91 operates in the following manner tomaintain heavy pressure for gripping of the tool joint I4:

Fluid under pressure flows through line |54, into check valve 9'I, pastballs 98 and out through lines |00 to line I0| and line |02, fillingboth ends of cylinder |04 and into cylinder 89, extending piston rods92, thereby causing jaws 94 to advance upon and clamp the pipe joint I4.Torque applied by the upper tong causes relative movement betweencylinder |04 and piston |05, generating pressure in proportion to thetorque applied. This pressure is transmitted by line |0| to the lefthand cylinder 89 when the joint is being tightened and by line |02 tothe cylinder 89 on the right in Figure 5 when the joint is to beloosened, thereby increasing the holding power in proportion to thetorque applied.

To unclamp jaws 94, fluid is admitted through line |55, into check valve91, causing pistons 99 to move upwardly, upsetting balls 88 from theirseats, permitting fluid to ow out through line |54 and in through line53, thereby retracting piston rods 92.

Piston rod |06 of cylinder |04 transmits torque from holding tong frame88 to frame assembly 52, cylinder |04 being attached to tong frame 88 bymeans of pin |03. Piston rod |06 is attached to frame assembly 52 by anarm |08 and a pin |07.

Referring to Figure 6; post I0 serves in the capacity of a piston rodfor a piston I I0 and a cylinder |09, the latter embracing the post I8and raises and lowers the complete tong assembly with respect to thederrick door Fluid admitted through line II| raised the tong assemblywhile uid admitted through line ||2 lowers s. the assembly; aswill.vbecome obviousffrom anexlamination of Figure 6;

Thecontrol headv I 5 is detachable from the post I and, by means offlexible lines, thecontrol head is. enabled` to operate the machine fromany suitable point at the well site. This being true, the operator mayeflciently operate the controly head at a safeposition such as intheshelter I', protected by itssteel roof I9. Line I6: delivers hydrauliciluid" under pressure to the control valves ofihead' I5and' line I1conveys spentand excess fluidback to its source.

Thevalvesof the control head: I5lare connected to their respectiveunitsby suitable-rigidlandexibl'e; lines. Valve II 3 is 'connected tolines |54 and |55 and! ser-ves to clamp and un'clamp the lower holdingAjaws. Valve 'II4 is connected to lines (i2-and 63 and serves to clampand unclamp the upper torque jaws. Valve II 5is-:co'nn`e`cted to linesv19- and 89' and serves to' rotate the upper torque tong for looseningand tightening` joints. Valve II'Ii` isv connected to lines |39 andVI4()v (Fig. '1)' and-serves to clamp and unclamp the spinner roller jaws|28. Valve I-I'1 isvconnect'ed to" lines ,|435 and |44 (Fig. '1) andcontrols rotation of thespinner driving rolls. Valve IIS-'s connected tolines II'I'and'I I2 (Fig. 6) and controls theraisin-gand lowering of thecomplete tong assembly. Valve- I I Sfis connected to lines 19 and 8D andcontrols rotation of the upper torque tong. Valve |120 isconnectedtolines 39 and 49 and controls the clamping and unclarnping action ofmanipulator armrjaws` 33Vv (Fig. 3). Valve I2I is connected to lines 41and 48' (Fig'. 3) and controls rotation of the manipulator arm l2y aboutthesupporting post I0. Valve |22 is connected to linesv 2B and 21 (Fig.2) and controls the operation of the main extending and retractingcylinder of the manipulating or work orienting arm I2. Valve |55 isconnected to lines 3| and 32 and is effective to extend and retract theindexing cylinder 28 of the manipulator arm I2'. All of the valvesmentioned are connected to pressure line I6l and return line I1.

In Figure 7` is shown the rapid spinner mechanismfor screwing joints upto al1 torque within itsy capacity before actual tightening is effectedlIcy-means of the main tong. The spinner mechanism isr also applied tocomplete the operation of separating the tool joints once they arebroken by the tong. The tong frame assembly 52 supports and guides thespinner in operation.

The spinner assembly consists of the hydraulic clamping cylinder |23,with piston rods I 24 attached to arms |23 by means of pins |25. Thearms |26 pivot about pins |21 in the frame assembly 52 and are suppliedwith rollers I28on pins |29. The rollers |28, when in clamped position,press the drill stem 6 back against the knurled driving rolls |32 forspinning in or spinning out the joint.

Drivingly attached to knurled rollers |32 are sprockets |34, about whicha chain |33 is passed as shown in Figure 7. This chain also extendsabout a sprocket |30 which is mounted on a driving shaft I3I. In Figure8 is shown fan arm |49, which is connected to shaft I3! by a key |48. Anescapement lever I5I is pivoted to oscillate on a pin |59 mounted in thearm |49 and a spring |52 holds the lever I5| in the position shown forcounterclockwise rotation of ratchet wheel |41 which is the direction oftravel when spinning in joints. In spinning out joints, ratchet wheel|41 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the lever I5I is pivoted aboutpin I 59 until the opposite en-d engages lratchet vwheel I"41i, springf|252 alsogholding' it. in' thisg. position.

A gear |346.A is also' mountedi on' shaft` |3;I.' and is.`- driven-'by`a rack. |531; andV rotates1 in',1 common with ratchet wheelA |411;ALroller I,45,.mounted:on ashaft If35bears against` theA reverse side 0Lthe rack |38 andI maintainsA meshed'.- relationship of the-teeth;ofitheirack with those'of" the gear |461 Referring again' to:Fig.ure 1;a cylinder |3e1l is shown clampedin the frame assemblyI 52; by; means ofa bolt |138:- and: thel extendedA end of the piston rod of this'Vcylinder is: actually the aforementioned rack bar |361, Which asstated', engagesthe gear Ifll=1 to drive. the sameforactuating thespinner mechanism inthe. manner-'de'- scribed.

A line |44 supplies fluidA to cylinder |315 for theeXtending; stroke ofits. piston to, actuatei the rack |33 longitudinally while a, line I43asupplies fluid forl theretracting. strokeoi the cylinderY |31.

In operation, the pipe handling equipment described isv set upinthemanner illustrated in Figure 1. As the operating line 5is actuated tolower the pipe elevator (not shown) tosuspend a section of pipe 6 overthat already in ther we11,.the lower portion ofthe suspended section isclamped by the jaws 3.3 of the manipulating. arm I2 to orient itsthreaded end with that of the set pipe section. Operation of this armhaving been, described, it is suilcient. to point out that the arm isactuated by suitable valves accessible to anoperator from his. positionin the shelter |15. It is obvious. that the. :arrangement makes.possible the positioning of'pipe without the necessity, as heretofore,for handlers to graspandposition the pipe by hand;

After the tool joints. I3' and I4'. have been engaged in the mannerAdescribed, the rapid spinner mechanism isset in motion by the operatorwithout leaving his position in the shelter I5' and theA upper joint isspun to the limitedtorque capacity ofthe spinner after which theoperatoractuates valves necessary to set into operation the jaws offthe holdingtong illustrated'in- Figure 5 to clamp the lowermost pipe sectionpreparatory to threading into the same the suspendedpipe sectionthereabove.

Having completed the operations of positioning, spinningand clamping thepipe, the operator then actuates the described valves for closingthejaws 59 of the main tong illustrated in Figure 4 and subsequentlyopening valves which supply uid effective to oscillate the jaws for theapplication of the required torque to tighten the joint.

vIn breaking and spinning out joints in pulling pipe, the abovedescribed operation is reversed.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some`modiiication and such modification as may be construed to fall withinthe scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to bewithin the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Pipe handling equipment for well drilling including in combinationwith a single supporting post adjacent the drill hole of a well,providing a common mounting for said equipment, the latter comprising aframe oscillatably and vertically displaceable on said post, a jawcarrying member supported by said frame for holding a pipe string insaid drill hole, a complementary jaw carrying member above said rstmember for rotating a pipe section suspended above said pipe string, athird jaw carrying member above said second member for imparting to saidsuspended pipe secgenesi 7 tion rapid rotation preliminary to the actionof said second mem-ber, a pipe manipulating arm oscillatably mounted onthe upper end of said post and having pipe engaging jaws, hydraulicmeans associated with each of said members and said manipulator arm foractuating the jaws thereof, a detachable control head on said frame andseparate valve means in said head for controlling pressure fluid to andselectively actuating the hydraulic means in each of said jaw carryingmembers and said manipulator arm.

2. Pipe handling equipment for well drilling ncluding a unitarystructure mounted for oscillative movement towards and away from thedrill hole of a well, a single post adjacent said well hole affording asupport for said structure, the latter comprising a pipe engaging andpositioning member, a pipe holding tong, a pipe rotating tong and aspinning tong, hydraulically actuated jaws carried by said positioningmember and each of said tongs, a hydraulic control head detachablymounted on the supporting post of said structure, a cylinder embracingsaid post and supporting said pipe engaging, pipe holding and pipespinning tongs, a piston stationary with said post -within saidcylinder, and valve means in said control head for selectively operatingthe jaw assemblies of said positioning member and said tongs and fordisplacing said cylinder on said post to raise and lower said tongs.

3. Pipe handling equipment for drilling wells including an upright postadjacent the drill hole of a well, providing a common support for saidequipment, a horizontal disposed frame, a cylinder vertically movable onsaid post adjacent its lower end, a piston on said post Within saidcylinder, means for hydraulically charging said cylinder to effectoscillative and vertical displacement of said frame on said post, a pipeholding tong mounted on said frame having hydraulically actuated jaws, atorque imposing tong also mounted on said frame having hydraulicallyactuated jaws, a spinning tong supported by said frame havinghydraulically actuated roller jaws, a pipe positioning arm supportedoscillatably on the upper end of said post above said frame havinghydraulically actuated jaws, a control head on said frame and valvemeans in said control head for selectively operating said tongs and saidpipe positioning arm.

4. Apparatus for assembling and disassemblng' pipe strings in a wellfrom a position spaced from said well, including a single uprightadjacent said well, having a piston stationarily mounted thereon, aframe having an integral cylinder embracing said upright and said pistonand hydraulically movable longitudinally and oscillatively thereon. pipegripping and holding means carried by said frame, torque imposing meansin said frame above said gripping means, pipe spinning means in saidframe above said torque imposing means, said gripping, torque imposingand spinning means having hydraulically actuated Work engaging meanstherein, a pipe positioning arm mounted on said upright above saidspinning means carrying pipe engaging jaws and means assembled on saidupright for controlling the flow of hydraulic uid to each of said meansfor selectively actuating the same.

5. Apparatus of the character described including a single supportingpost having a piston stationarily mounted thereon, a cylindersurrounding said piston, a frame mounted on said piston and disposed foroscillative and vertical displacement in a horizontal plane adjacent aVwell hole, independent, hydraulically actuated means carried by saidframe for holding, rotating and spinning pipe sections for assemblingand disassembling a pipe string with respect to said well hole,hydraulically actuated means above said pipe holding, rotating andspinning means for engaging and positioning pipe sections above saidwell hole, pipe engaging jaws in each of said hydraulically actuatedmeans and means assembled on said post for controlling the iiow ofhydraulic uid to said pipe holding, rotating and spinning means and saidpipe positioning means to actuate their respective pipe engaging jaws.

INGRAM X. CALHOUN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,311,225 Grable Feb. 16, 19432,317,306 Smith Apr. 20, 1943 2,351,851 Young June 20, 1944

